Revision: Nov. 21, 2023, 10:39 a.m.
2024 SESSION
24-2840.0
10/08
SENATE BILL [bill number]
AN ACT establishing an early detection cancer screening pilot program for active and retired firefighters.
SPONSORS: [sponsors]
COMMITTEE: [committee]
─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
ANALYSIS
This bill establishes an early detection cancer screening pilot program in the department of safety, division of fire standards and training and emergency medical services, for retired and full-time active firefighters New Hampshire.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.
Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]
Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
24-2840.0
10/08
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty Four
AN ACT establishing an early detection cancer screening pilot program for active and retired firefighters.
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
1 Pilot Program Established; Department of Safety; Division of Fire Standards and Training and Emergency Medical Services; Firefighter Early Detection Screening; Appropriation.
I. The commissioner of safety shall establish within the division of fire standards and training and emergency medical services the firefighter early detection screening pilot program.
(a) All active and retired permanent firefighters under RSA 100-A:1 shall be offered a comprehensive early detection cancer screening that consists of: a blood test, an ultrasound of vital organs, a lung CT if indicated, and a skin cancer screening.
(b) Vendors with the ability to test for the following shall be preferred:
(1) A multi-cancer blood test that detects signals from as many cancer types as possible, including those that are commonly unscreened.
(2) An ultrasound diagnostic that screens, at minimum: abdominal aorta, thyroid, liver, gallbladder, spleen, bladder, kidney, testicles, exterior pelvis for females, as well as an echocardiogram and a carotid doppler.
II. The funding for the administration of the pilot program and cost of testing shall be provided by the state. The sum of $5,000,000 is appropriated for the biennium ending June 30, 2025 to the commissioner of safety for deposit in the fire standards and training and emergency medical services fund to be expended for the exclusive administration of the pilot program. Any unexpended funds shall not lapse until the termination of the pilot program. The governor is authorized to draw a warrant for said sum out of any money in the treasury not otherwise appropriated.
III. Funds shall be disbursed upon submission of forms as adopted in rules of the department of safety, division of fire standards and training in coordination with and with the approval of the governor.
IV. Within 90 days of the effective date of this act, a committee consisting of representatives from the Professional Fire Fighters of New Hampshire, the New Hampshire Association of Fire Chiefs, and the department of safety, division of fire standards and training and emergency medical services, with oversight from the commissioner of safety or designee, shall present to the commissioner and the governor their initial plan to administer the program, which shall consist of:
(a) Known vendors who can provide appropriate screenings.
(b) Location/Time to provide screenings.
(c) Administrative requirements to:
(1) Notify members of opportunity.
(2) Register/screen members.
(3) Document findings.
(4) Provide ongoing recommendations to the legislature.
V.(a) Firefighter participation in cancer screenings shall be optional and a firefighter shall be eligible to receive any combination of offered screenings, not to exceed a cost of $1,300 per individual.
(b) Expenditure of funds shall be made for not more than 24 months from the date of a plan approval to administer early-detection cancer screening services unless the governor grants a request for an extension.
VI. Any active or retired firefighter meeting the requirements herein, who self-funds any portion of the above screenings after January 1, 2024 may submit for reimbursement of such costs, not to exceed $1,300 from the pilot program, only during the period of time that funds are made available. The firefighter must submit required documentation for reimbursement.
VII. The committee authorized in paragraph IV shall present their findings to the governor, the senate president, and the speaker of the house of representatives after 12 months and after 24 months of the pilot program’s administration. Findings shall include: number of firefighters screened; tests conducted; results of tests; trends; and any recommendations for the pilot program.
VIII. All providers of services shall ensure the name and any other personally identifiable information of the individual is removed prior to providing results to the committee.